Helen Vanderburg (born January 12, 1959) is a former Canadian synchronized swimmer and world champion.

Helen Vanderburg
Personal information
Full nameHelen Vanderburg
National teamCanada
Born (1959-04-12) April 12, 1959 (age 65)
Calgary, Alberta
SpouseTerry Kane
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesSynchronised swimming
ClubCalgary Aquabelles
CoachDebbie Muir
Medal record
Synchronised swimming
Representing  Canada
World Aquatics Championships
Gold medal – first place 1978 West Berlin Solo
Gold medal – first place 1978 West Berlin Duet
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 1979 San Juan Solo
Gold medal – first place 1979 San Juan Duet
Silver medal – second place 1979 San Juan Team

Career

edit

Vanderburg began synchronized swimming in 1969 at age eleven.[1] From 1971 to 1973, she was a member of junior national championship teams, and in 1973 she captured the junior Canadian solo and duet championships.[1] In 1977, Vanderburg joined the senior ranks, winning the solo and duet competition with partner, Michelle Calkins at the Canadian Aquatic Championships, the first of three years that she won both events.[1] Vanderburg was the first non-American to win the World Championship at both the Solo and Duet events,[2] doing so at the 1978 World Aquatic Championships in West Berlin.[3] After Calkins' retirement in 1978, Vanderburg partnered with Kelly Kryczka and they went on to win gold in the duet, at the 1979 Pan American Games,[4] Vanderburg also won gold in the solo event. Vanderburg retired from competition in 1979.

Titles

edit

1979

1978

1977

  • Pan Pacific Games (in Mexico City, Mexico) - gold in duet; silver in solo and team
  • Canadian Senior Champion - both solo and duet

1973

  • Canadian Jr. Champion - both solo and duet

Honors

edit

Vanderburg was awarded the Velma Springstead Trophy in 1979 as Canada's outstanding female athlete of the year[5] Vanderburg was elected to the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in 1983.[1] She was inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 1980,[6] and in 1985, she was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.[5]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d "Canada's Sports Hall of Fame | Stories". www.sportshall.ca. Archived from the original on 14 April 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  2. ^ "Human Rights a Day - January 12, 1959 - Helen Vanderburg Shaw". www.hipcast.com. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  3. ^ Bean, Dawn Pawson (4 March 2005). Synchronized Swimming: An American History. McFarland. ISBN 9780786419487. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  4. ^ "Kryczka, Kelly". ashfm.ca. Retrieved 19 May 2017.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ a b "ISHOF.org | HELEN VANDERBERG (CAN)". ISHOF.org. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  6. ^ "Vanderburg, Helen". ashfm.ca. Retrieved 19 May 2017.[permanent dead link]
edit